Interview with Ravinder Kaur

Please tell us a little bit about yourself to begin with including your hobbies, interests, your school and memberships?

At the time of this interview, I am 22 days old. I come from Leicester in the UK . Currently, I spend a great deal of my time writing for and about Sikhi - this is one of my great passions in life. I want to one day, with Guru Saahibs kirpa, inspire others the way that so many Gursikhs have inspired me. Guru Saahib has blessed me with the seva of helping with the Young Sikhs organisation on both a local and national level. I love nothing more than being able to sit and talk about Sikhi and Guru Saahib... it fires me up with a passion knowing that what we say about the Almighty may make someone else think... I also host a Young Sikhs radio show twice yearly (currently working on an all-year-round show) with a group of chardeekala Gursikhs, this is something else which I also love.

How did you first come into Sikhi? What influenced you? What interested you? What was your starting point, if you had one?

I've always been "into" Sikhi in that my parents have always taught me about the Sikh Way of Life. However, much to my regret, over the years throughout school and college, I had become one of those individuals who succumbed to pressures of friends and peers and started thinking the "grass is greener" this led me away from Sikhi and into the corrupted web of maya. Guru Saahib had beant kirpa tho; about a year ago I started talking to some amazing local sangat. I couldn't pin point an exact moment, but a series of events from meeting Baba Thakur Singh Jee, to the 20year anniversary of Operation Blue Star to the 300th Anniversary of the Shaheedi of our beloved Saahibzadey increased my thirst for Sikhi. I started to realise that to even think about emulating the amazing lives of these pooran Gursikhs, I would have to start adhering to the hukam of the Lord. I made some mistakes and still fall sometimes, but Guru Saahib continued to embrace me and the kirpa has been amazing... On the 4th June this year, Maharaaj blessed me (along with some amazing Gursikhs) with the gift of Amrit - I wish I had words with which I could describe how I feel, but no mere words could do my Lord justice.

You have been one of the main sevadars for the up and coming Young Sikhs UK organisation around the country. What is YSUK and how did you get involved in it?

Young Sikhs is an organisation which was established at the National Convention on 12 th Sept 2004 . The Sikh Federation recognised that there was a dire need to do more for the younger generation, and Young Sikhs was a way to encourage younger Sikhs to become more actively involved in a host of activities. I got involved in YSUK when myself and Kiran Kaur Penji felt like it was about time we got up and did something for ourselves. It was then we got in touch with the fantastic sevadaar behind YSUK and have been blessed with the seva since. The great activities YS host are both spiritual and temporal. In Leicester , YSL, with Guru Saahibs amazing Kirpa have been blessed with the seva of holding a Simran night. Youths get together once a week and in sangat are blessed with the ability of reciting the Lords name. This Friday divan is the most amazing part of my week.

Young Sikhs are also involved in a range of over activities, which include promoting sporting and educational activities as well as relevant cultural issues directly associated with the Sikh way of life; campaigning for human rights issues. More can be learnt about the activities of YSUK at the upcoming Young Sikhs One Day Conference...

We know you are involved in many projects around the UK . You are currently part of the Young Sikhs organisation which will be involved in organising a rally for remembrance in October. Why are rally's like this and the one in June so important to the Sikh faith?

Rally's like this are important, firstly, because they serve as a time for everyone to come together, unite and remember. For the times that Sikhi and our faith has been dealt with injustice needs to be remembered and our fight for freedom and justice continuing. Especially for Young Sikhs born and bred in the West. We must give credit to our parents and elders who came over from India and have kept alive their wounds of 1984 and taught us to remember the times of Guru Arjan Dev Jee, Guru Tegh Bahadhur Saahib Jee... - not letting us forget our roots; as youngsters growing up in this country we see things with fresh eyes and we can proactively make a difference using our ideas combined with the experience of our elders. We have to remember that a 21 year long fight for justice is too long. Rally's like this should serve as a place where together, we can all make a difference.

We owe it to our Khalsa Family and Shaheeds to do so.

Where do you go to get information on anything related to Sikhi?

Sangat is my main source of information. Guru Saahib's sons and daughters. The knowledge that the sangat out there has is astounding. Every Friday night I attend a local (YSL) simran night, its inspirational to see so many sons and daughters of Guru Saahib sitting together being given the ability of reciting His name. I've learnt a great deal from the English katha at this event, I've also met up with some chardeekala Gursikhs with whom I love to discuss Sikhi. Above all, I go to Guru Saahib. I have realised that if you ask Maharaaj for the understanding, They grant it you. There is no bigger source of Everything than Akaal.

In your opinion, is Sikhi growing stronger or is it dying out, like some cynics say? Which areas is Sikhi flourishing, and which areas is it dying not only geographically, but also socially?

Look around and see, Sikhi is flourishing like never before. Particularly amongst the youth. Youngsters are not following the path of Sikhi blindly anymore; Kids are not keeping their kesh because "Mum and dad said I have to" but in fact "Because this is an ultimate blessing from my Father". My brothers and sisters are falling in love with Sikhi and adoring themselves with the Crown of His name. A few years back, a trip to the Gurudwara would be a social event, time to meet up with friends, and catch up on the local gossip... talking, not taking anything in - I too used to be like this. Now, I see love, I see that love growing daily and it inspires me to want to do more. Cynics will always be cynical, but Sikhi is about overcoming that and putting your all into your faith for Guru Saahib. When that happens, the opinions of those cynics mean nothing.

Geographically, I think we are all aware of the state of Sikhi in India , and though it is a crying shame, and heartbreaking to see and hear about, the fact that there are so many chardeekala Gursikhs outside of India means that Sikhi is no where near dying. Just as the state of Panjab has turned so many non-India-residents towards Sikhi, the state outside will once again start influencing those inside India also.

You were recently gifted with Amrit and we would like to congratulate you on this. How was the experience for you? What would you say to those who are reading this, who have not taken Amrit and are waiting for the "right time"?

First, Congratulations should be saved for the Almighty; Mere Har Jeeo Sab

Ko Therei Vass. Everything was and is in His hands; if it was in mine, I would have taken Amrit a long time ago... I realised Amrit is not taken, it's given. The experience was something completely out of this world... Amrit is by far the sweetest taste in the world... watching my Lord stir the sweetness of immortality with the sword of death is the most surreal and amazing experience one will ever have. I always considered myself waiting for the "right time"; but here and now is the right time. I never understood it when Gursikhs used to say that to me before, but I realise it now. The sweetness of His name is so amazing, that one should not delay it for a moment. The right time is the moment one knows what Amrit is – The right time is the moment one realises that they no longer want to be an orphan, but in fact wants to hold his head up and say "I am the son of Guru Gobind Singh Saahib". Why should we live in adopted foster care, when we have a mother, a father and a home?

You help in the political side of Sikhi here and abroad. Is there a need for youth to get involved into politics and how can they do this?

There is a dire need to Young Sikhs to get involved in the politics of Sikhi. Saahib Sri Guru Hargobind Saahib Jee gave us the principle of Miri-Piri which we should follow. We need to start educating not only others but ourselves, we must get to the core root as to the reasons as to why we attend rally's and lobby's. Young Sikhs have actively attended rally's and lobby days in recent months - A way for more young Sikhs to get involved is to attend and take part in the Lobby Days that are organised throughout the year - these make a huge impact on us, and results are almost instant - We must understand that we live in a democratic country in which we MUST have a voice. Saahib Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee said themselves, "KOI KISI KO RAAJ NA DE HAIN , JO LA HAIN NIJ BAL SE LE HAIN " - in a sentence, that no one will hand us our rights to freedom, we must fight for them. We must fight politically for our rights, and for those of our brothers and sisters. The crown that Guru Saahib has adorned us with must never drop - If we need to fight politically to protect it, we must. We're on the first run of the ladder yet - there is a long way to go, but it can be done, else we wouldn't be here. What we need realise also is that, we have to have the jeevan to be able to fight for something politically; this is only obtained through seva, simran and sadhsangat.

There are a lot of "jathas" around the world and recently, there has been a lot of talk for panthic ekta (one-ness, unity). In the state of affairs now, is ekta possible and if so how can it achieved?

Unity is possible of course it is. One thing I see a lot at any programme I go to etc is a lot of love for Sant Gyani Jarnail Singh Jee Khalsa Bhindranwale... its great to see - that love is portrayed through the wearing of t-shirts, hoodies and Sant Jee's statements emblazoned across peoples clothes. Now it's time to engrave these words in our hearts and minds. Sant Jee advised us to come under one fold - one nishaan saahib, one Guru Saahib. There are plenty of jathe out there, plenty of pakhandee's and there always will be. But there will always also be, one Akaal. As we step forward to give our head, we must do so with only Guru Saahib in our heart. We must remember that we are the sons and daughters of the Tenth Master only. When you have complete faith in Guru Saahib, you will have complete faith in Guru Saahib's creation. We should always see the good in all, and take that from them, and try and add it to our jeevans. We must learn to disassociate people with views of jathe and associate them with views of Guru Saahib. If we have 100% faith in Guru Maharaaj, and if we all believe in Them, then I feel unity is hugely possible – especially amongst the youth.

Who has been your main source of inspiration, past and present?

There have been many people that have influenced my life, from my parents who have relied on Guru Saahib their entire lives and taught me to do the same, to my sangat, my brothers and sisters, in particular those who took steps to give their heads on June 4th, the Young Sikhs from all around the country who make me realise that if we each took a step we could make a difference. Two of the most inspirational people in my life have been, my little paaji Randeep Singh, affectionately known as Ranz Killa - his keertan and thirst for Sikhi constantly keeps my faltering jyot alive - and the great Baba Deep Singh Jee Shaheed is my hero.

One of the problems we find in Sikhi today is that when someone is given a bit of responsibility or they are actively involved in major projects, they are scrutinized and belittled by others due to jealousy or personal reasons. Have you ever felt a victim to this yourself and if so, what can you do minimize the problem?

It is a problem with doing seva in the public eye. When people would criticise, it used to hurt me all the time, but one thing I have learnt is, as an individual we have to think, are we doing seva for people or Guru Saahib? We should not be affected by either praise or put downs as these all add to ego. Ego is a hard vice to eradicate, but with baani on your lips and Guru Saahib within your heart it can be done. So long as Maharaaj is happy, we should be – we cannot please the world, and we are not here to please the world either. We must remain humble like Saahib Sri Guru Amar Daas Jee Maharaaj, and we will realise that no jealousy etc can ever subdue real love and real seva. Continue seva with a pure heart and Maharaaj will help with everything else.

Ravinder Kaur, thank you very much for agreeing to participate in this. Please can you leave a final message for all the people out there reading this?

Like I said above, praise and put downs should all be as one. I didn't deserve to be Youth of the Month - this is not me talking out of nimrata, but in fact out of truthfulness. I'm very new to this game of love, and am yet to achieve what some of those amazing Gurmukhs out there have, but I have faith in Akaal and know they will continue to show us the light. There are many chardeekala Gursikhs who inspire me daily. I am a sacrifice to those humble beings and I wish to one day just have the ability walk among their shadows. If ever I have offended anyone, please forgive me and ask Maharaaj to bless this moorakh. To anyone of the sangat reading this, just always remember Maharaaj says: Charan Sharan Gur Ek Penda Jai Chal, Satgur Kot Penda Agai Hoi Laith Hai... If we just take ONE step towards Guru Jee, our Guru Jee will take thousands towards us - just do it. I promise you, you will NEVER regret it.
 

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer the above questions,
and we hope you can continue to carry the torch of Sikhi and inspire others alike.
UnitedSikhs.com Team